A finely executed and very detailed map from Vander Maelen's monumental atlas of 1827, the Atlas Universel. This atlas was one of the most remarkable world atlases ever produced, anticipating the International Map of the World and showng for the first time the entire land mass of the world on a uniform scale. The entire atlas consisted of 400 maps drawn on a scale of ca. 1:1.6 million, with as precise and accurate information as was then available. This atlas was also the first to be made totally with lithography, each map precisely drawn by H. Ode. This map is the first lithographed map to show Illinois, Missouri and points west that would become present-day Kansas and Iowa. Within small circles is the population of each state. Other information includes towns, rivers and lakes, roads, and topography. An interesting map of a quality well before its time. $500

Anthony Finley. "Missouri." From A New General Atlas. Philadelphia: A. Finley, 1827. 11 1/4 x 8 3/4. Engraving by Young & Delleker. Original hand color. Small stain in top margin. Otherwise, very good condition.

In the 1820's, Anthony Finley produced a series of fine atlases in the then leading American cartographic center, Philadelphia. Finley's work is a good example of the quality that American publishers were beginning to obtain in the second decade of the century. Finley was very concerned to depict as up-to-date information as was possible, and thus his map presents an accurate picture of Missouri in the early 1820s. At that time most of the development in the state was along the rivers, and this is graphically depicted in this map. The map is elegantly presented, with crisp and clear engraving and attractive pastel hand shading. Towns, rivers, and political divisions are indicated, and the hand coloring makes this map as attractive as it is informative. This is a fine map of Missouri at an early stage of its development. $325

A finely engraved map by Thomas G. Bradford, a Boston map publisher, showing Missouri at the beginning of the fourth decade of the nineteenth century. The map was original drawn and issued by Thomas Bradford in 1838. This example was published in a version of Bradford's atlas produced by Samuel Goodrich three years later. Detail is very good, showing towns, counties, and the myriad rivers throughout the state. Missouri was in a period of great development, with most of this based on the traffic along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. This can be seen by the number of settlements along these rivers, which the interior parts are shown relatively undeveloped. The whole is attractively presented with original hand coloring, and precise engraving. $375

A superior, detailed map of Missouri by the great American cartographer, Henry Schenck Tanner. In 1816, Henry, his brother Benjamin, John Vallance and Francis Kearny formed an engraving firm in Philadelphia. Having had experience at map engraving through his work with John Melish, Tanner conceived of the idea of compiling and publishing an American Atlas, which was begun in 1819 by Tanner, Vallance, Kearny & Co.. Soon Tanner took over the project on his own, and thus began his career as cartographic publisher. The American Atlas was a huge success, and this inspired Tanner to produce his Universal Atlas, of more manageable size. This atlas contained excellent maps of each state, focusing on the transportation network, including roads, railroads and canals. All details are clearly presented, and these include towns, rivers, mountains, political boundaries and the transportation information. The maps were later purchased by S. Augustus Mitchell, and then Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co., but it is these early Tanner editions which are the rarest and most important. This map of Missouri is typical of the maps, and it shows the state at an interesting stage of its history. At this time when many immigrants were moving into and through the state, the well detailed road/trail system is of particular interest. $350

A fine Missouri map by S. Augustus Mitchell, issued 26 years after statehood. For much of the middle part of the nineteenth century, the Mitchell firm dominated American cartography in output and influence. S. Augustus Mitchell Jr.'s maps of the 1860s are probably the best known issues of this firm, but his father's earlier efforts are excellent maps derived from H.S. Tanner's atlas of the 1830s. This early map of Missouri is a good example of this work. Topographical information, including towns, rivers, roads, etc. is clearly shown, and the counties are shaded with contrasting pastel shades. It is obvious from the quality and attractive appearance of this map why Mitchell's firm became so important. A fine early American cartographic document of the state. $225

"Map of the State of Missouri." Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co, 1850. 13 x 15 7/8. Lithographic transfer from engraved plate. Original hand-coloring. Very good condition.

A strong and beautifully crafted map of Missouri from the mid-nineteenth century, published by Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co.. This firm took over the publication of S. Augustus Mitchell's important Universal Atlas in 1850, and they continued to produce up-dated maps that were amongst the best issued in the period. Topographical information is copiously presented, but it is the settlement and development of the state that is particularly interesting. This is a period when Missouri was beginning to grow rapidly, and the cities and small towns are shown clearly. Also of interest is the road system that is depicted crisscrossing the state in increasing complexity. The counties are shaded with contrasting pastel colors, giving the map an attractive appearance. A fine early American cartographic document of the state. $275

From the mid-nineteenth century on, the lead in American map publishing swung from Philadelphia to New York. The firm of J.H. Colton and its successors played a large role in this shift, producing accurate and up-to-date maps that had a wide distribution. This striking map of Missouri is an excellent example of the company's fine work. It shows the entire state broken into counties. These political boundaries are nicely set off with contrasting pastel shades applied with hand watercolor. Detail includes cities, roads, railroads, rivers, and other features of interest. Included in the upper right is an inset map of the southeastern tip of the state. $150

Charles Desilver, one of the many publishers working in Philadelphia during the mid-nineteenth century, issued an atlas of maps based on the famous Tanner-Mitchell-Cowperthwait series. Desilver used much the same information as originally drawn in the 1840s, but updated the maps with new counties, roads, towns, and especially the transportation network of roads and railroads, always the focus of the maps from this series. This map is typical of the rather unusual and scarce Desilver atlas. The growth of roads and railroads in the state is impressive and indicative of the huge growth in the region during the middle part of the century. An attractive and fascinating Missouri document from just before the Civil War. $160

"State of Missouri." Washington: General Land Office, 1866. 17 1/2 x 20. Lithograph by Bowen & Co.. Original outline color. Very slight wear at folds. Very good condition.

The U.S. General Land Office (GLO) was established in 1812 with responsibility to survey and control the dispersal of public lands. All public land was required to be surveyed prior to settlement, and the first director of the GLO, Thomas Hutchins, set up a systematic process of rectangular survey for the public lands and launched the great national project to survey and map the public domain in the entire country, a procedure which got under way in the famous "seven ranges" of southeast Ohio. Each surveyor was to record not only geography, but also features of the landscape with economic import, such as roads, Indian trails, existing settlements, Indian lands, mineral deposits, and of particular interest, railroads and their rights of way. Of note is that unlike most surveys of the time, the surveyors were instructed not to apply new names to the landscape, but to use "the received names of all rivers, creeks, lakes, swamps, prairies, hills, mountains and other natural objects." Periodically the GLO would issue maps showing the progress of their surveys, and this map shows how Missouri was well covered by 1866. Interesting features are the railroads in the state. $250

"A County and Township Map of the States of Iowa and Missouri." Philadelphia: S. Augustus Mitchell, Jr., 1874. 21 1/2 x 14 3/8. Lithograph. Original hand color. Very good condition.

For most of the middle part of the nineteenth century, the firm founded by S. Augustus Mitchell dominated American cartography in output and influence. This fine map is from one of his son's atlases. The Mitchell firm's maps are known for their precision and great detail. Mitchell gathered the best current information available, and depicted it with great clarity. This map of Missouri and Iowa is a good example of Mitchell's output. Roads, rivers, railroads, political boundaries and other details are shown and labeled. $65

From a delightful series of maps issued by the Arbuckle Bros. Coffee Company. This firm was founded by John and Charles Arbuckle of Pittsburgh, PA. They developed a machine to weigh, fill, seal and label coffee in paper packages, which allowed them to become the largest importer and seller of coffee in the world. Their most famous promotional program involved the issuing of several series of small, colorful trading cards, one of which was included in every package of Arbuckle's Coffee. These series included cards with sports, food, historic scenes, and--one of the most popular--maps. The latter cards included not only a map, but also small illustrations "which portrays the peculiarities of the industry, scenery, etc." of the region depicted. These cards are a delight, containing informative maps as well as wonderful scenes of the area mapped. $65